Master track link with unitary rail

Abstract

A pair of master track links includes one master track link that has a rail portion that defines a length that is greater than 80% of the length of the body of the master track link.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A pair of master track links that defines a direction of tension and one of the master track links including a tooth and the other master track link defining a recess, the pair of master track links comprising:
 a first master track link including
 a first body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end, and a length therebetween; wherein 
 the first body defines a first bore adjacent the proximate end; 
 the first body includes a first interface region spaced away from the first bore along a direction parallel to the direction of tension, the first interface region including one or more catch teeth that is configured to mate with the recess of another master track link; and 
 the first body includes a rail portion that defines a rail portion length that is greater than 80% of the length of the first body; 
 wherein the one or more catch teeth of the first interface region includes a first plurality of teeth that are spaced from each other a first distance along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension, and the first body includes a forward tooth that is disposed proximate the distal end that is spaced away from the plurality of teeth a second distance along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension that is at least three times greater than the first distance; and 
 the first body includes a bifurcated ramp portion disposed adjacent the distal end, the bifurcated ramp portion including a first ramp portion disposed immediately adjacent the distal end and a second ramp portion disposed between the first ramp portion and the plurality of teeth, and the forward tooth is disposed on the first ramp portion. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The pair of master track links of  claim 1  wherein the first body includes the rail portion length that is greater than 85% of the length of the first body. 
     
     
       3. The pair of master track links of  claim 1  wherein each of the plurality of teeth are identically configured and the first interface region of the first body further includes a rear tooth that is differently configured than the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       4. The pair of master track links of  claim 3  wherein the plurality of teeth includes four teeth. 
     
     
       5. The pair of master track links of  claim 3  wherein the first interface region defines a series of recesses between each of the plurality of teeth that are at least partially complimentarily shaped to the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       6. The pair of master track links of  claim 5  further comprising:
 a second master track link including
 a second body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end; 
 the second body defines a first bore adjacent the proximate end; 
 the second body includes a second interface region spaced away along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension from the first bore of the second body including a plurality of teeth; and 
 the second interface region defines an aperture that is at least complimentarily configured to receive the forward tooth of the first master track link. 
 
 
     
     
       7. A pair of master track links that defines a direction of tension and one of the master track links including one or more catch teeth and the other master track link defines one or more recesses that are configured to mate with the teeth, the pair of master track links comprising:
 a first master track link including
 a first body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end, and a length therebetween; wherein 
 the first body defines a first bore adjacent the proximate end; and 
 the first body includes a first interface region spaced away along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension from the first bore including one or more catch teeth disposed in a first zone defined by the body spaced away from the proximate end by a first distance along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension, the zone also being spaced away from the distal end by a second distance along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension, and the first distance and second distance are both 20% or greater of the length from the proximate end to the distal end; and 
 the first body includes a forward tooth that is disposed proximate the distal end within another zone defined by the first body that is measured from the distal end to the first zone; 
 wherein the first body includes a bifurcated ramp portion disposed adjacent the distal end, the bifurcated ramp portion including a first ramp portion disposed immediately adjacent the distal end and a second ramp portion disposed between the first ramp portion and the plurality of teeth, and the forward tooth is disposed on the first ramp portion. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The pair of master track links of  claim 7  wherein the one or more catch teeth includes a plurality of teeth that are identically configured and the first interface region of the first body further includes a rear tooth that is differently configured than the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       9. The pair of master track links of  claim 8  wherein the plurality of teeth includes four teeth. 
     
     
       10. The pair of master track links of  claim 8  wherein the first interface region defines a series of recesses between each of the plurality of teeth that are at least partially complimentarily shaped to the plurality of teeth. 
     
     
       11. The pair of master track links of  claim 7  wherein the first body further includes a rail portion that defines a rail portion length that is greater than 80% of the length of the first body. 
     
     
       12. The pair of master track links of  claim 11  wherein the rail portion length is greater than 85% of the length of the first body. 
     
     
       13. The pair of master track links of  claim 7  further comprising:
 a second master track link including
 a second body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end; wherein 
 the second body defines a first bore adjacent the proximate end; 
 the second body includes a second interface region spaced away along a direction that is parallel to the direction of tension from the first bore of the second body, the second interface region including one or more catch teeth; and 
 the second interface region includes a bifurcated ramp portion complimentarily shaped to the bifurcated ramp portion of the first interface region, the bifurcated ramp portion of the second interface region defining an aperture that is at least complimentarily configured to receive the forward tooth of the first master track link, the aperture being disposed above the first bore of the second body of the second master track link along a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of tension. 
 
 
     
     
       14. A pair of master track links comprising:
 a first master track link; and 
 a second master track link including 
 a second master track link body defining a top surface, a bottom surface, a first side surface and a second side surface defining a thickness therebetween, a proximate end and a distal end, and a length therebetween; wherein
 the second master track link body defines a first bore adjacent the proximate end, the first bore defining an axis; 
 
 the second master track link body includes a second master track link interface region including one or more teeth; and 
 the second master track link interface region defines an aperture including an abutment surface that is disposed between the first side surface and the second side surface along a direction that is parallel to the axis of the first bore such that the aperture is blind along the direction that is parallel to the axis of the first bore. 
 
     
     
       15. The pair of master track links of  claim 14  wherein the first master track link includes a first master track link body including a first master track link interface region, and a forward tooth that is configured to abut the abutment surface of the second master track link. 
     
     
       16. The pair of master track links of  claim 15  wherein the pair of master track links define a direction of tension and the abutment surface is substantially parallel to the direction of tension. 
     
     
       17. The pair of master track links of  claim 16  wherein the second master track link interface region includes a second master track link bifurcated ramped region and the first master track link interface region includes a first master track link bifurcated ramped region that is at least complimentarily configured to the second master track link bifurcated ramped region, the second master track link bifurcated ramp region includes a convex configuration, the first master track link bifurcated ramped region includes a concave configuration, and the aperture of the second master track link interface region is disposed above the first bore of the second master track link along a direction that is perpendicular to the direction of tension and the axis of the first bore.